17 



FOREST AND WATER. 



CHAPTER I. 



DEFINITION AND HISTORY. 



Forestry is a broad term covering the subject of forests in all re- 

 spects as they exist in large outlying and uncultivated districts. (The 

 Latin Foris — foresta.) Questions of every sort connected with the 

 natural growth, care and uses of forest trees appeal for answer to the 

 forester and subjects allied to forestry occupy many fields of thought 

 and study. • 



The origin of forestry may have been in man's instinct. There 

 was a point beyond which forest destruction was man's destruction. 

 Amongst primitive men, game and fish and the natural products of the 

 forest glades and streams formed their food resources and In fact all 

 their resources. These resources required large forest areas for their 

 life and reproduction. This reason for the evolution of an instinct for 

 forest preservation was. in addition to the less proximate one of the 

 destruction of the earth's life-supporting power growing out of undue 

 forest cenudation. 



The instinct In favor of trees was first formulated in primitive re- 

 ligions. Trees were made sacred in themselves at first and later 

 groves became sacred to both religion and learning. Religious feeling 

 favorable to trees is still perpetuated in Gothic architecture. The great 

 Gothic cathedrals of Europe are in imitation of great forest groves. 

 Their interiors clearly show this origin. Learning in early times was 

 a religious monopoly. We have the Greek word "Academy" meaning 

 a grove to perpetuate the connection of forestry with learning. 



In Mediaeval times forestry was perpetuated by the Kings and nobles 

 for their hunting and pleasure. These forest reserves were found to have 



